Which place is cheaper, Zurich or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Zurich?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rovaniemi and Zurich. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Rovaniemi or Zurich?
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it's a modern city known for being the "official" home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It's home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRovaniemi €174Zurich €251
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €174, while the average daily cost in Zurich is €251. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Rovaniemi and Zurich in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Zurich €159
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Zurich €318
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Zurich
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Zurich? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Rovaniemi Hotel Prices and Zurich Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Zurich €33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- From Return Transfer to Ranua Zoo by Private Van: $29
- From Rovaniemi Private Transfer To Polar Explorer Icebreaker: $48
- Private Departure Transfer from Rovaniemi: $55
- Private Arrival Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport or Train Station: $56
- Private Transfer from Rovaniemi airport-city centre: $75
- Santa Claus Village Guided Tour with Transfer: $77
- Rovaniemi Private City Transfer by Luxury Vehicule : $83
- From Helsinki: Private Transfer to Rovaniemi: $86
- Santa Claus Village Tour with Transfer: $87
- Trip to Santa Claus Village with Hotel Transfer: $87
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi (RVN) Airport to City centre: $87
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi city centre to Rovaniemi airport: $87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
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City Pass (2)€27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Zurich - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Private Transfer From Hotel To Zurich Airport or Vice Versa: $56
- Private One-way Airport Transfer Zurich Airport To/From Zurich: $65
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Vals Thermal Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $65
- Noumea Cruise Port to Noumea hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $71
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Badenweiler Thermal - Arrival Transfer: $76
- Private Transfer from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Zurich City Center: $76
- From Zurich Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer To Zurich Hotel: $78
- Private Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich in Business Car: $82
- Private Transfer From Hotel in Zurich To Zurich Airport: $87
- Private Transfer From Zurich Airport To Hotel in Zurich: $87
- Private Zurich Transfer: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Zurich?
Prices for flights to both Zurich and Rovaniemi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayRovaniemi €47Zurich €58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.
- Snow Restaurant Dinner Tour: $116
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $134
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $147
- From SnowHotel Aurora Experience with Dinner: $149
- Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights : $169
- Private Sauna, Jacuzzi and Dinner: $176
- Romantic Glass Igloo Dinner under Northern Lights : $223
- Northern Lights dinner in a Glass Igloo: $234
- Aurora Borealis Dinner in a Glass Igloo: $234
- PRIVATE Party dinner in a Glass Igloo Under Northern Lights : $240
- PRIVATE Glass Igloo Dinner Under Northern Lights : $240
- Private Glass Igloo Dinner on the Shore of Frozen Lake: $245
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2€13
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Zurich €33
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
- Essential A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- SnowGlow Winterpark Entry Ticket: $26
- Snowman World Entrance Ticket: $31
- Guided Supermarket Tour: $37
- Tour to Aurora Horses Farm with Charming Finnhorses: $38
- Guided Northern Lights Tour by Van: $74
- BBQ Picnic Experience under Northern Lights: $74
- Private Aurora Borealis Car Tour with Hot Drinks: $74
- Bus Tour with Hunting Northern Lights: $75
- Guided tour in Santa Claus village with hotel pick up: $80
- Lapland: Aurora Borealis BBQ Tour: $80
- From Northern Lights Photo Tour with Pickup: $80
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Zurich in the Mirror of the Past: Self-Guided Reading Tour: $5.47
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.36
- Zurich Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.42
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.42
- Best of Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Fun adventure tour of Outdoor Escape Game: $8.54
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Zürich: Swiss Finance Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Zurich in the Mirror of the Past: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- The Dark Side of Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Zurich Old Town Walking Tour: 2-Hours: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRovaniemi €21Zurich €27
Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour with Shots and Snacks: $31
- eTukTuk Hot Stone BBQ and Wine Tour Zürich: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Zurich, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Rovaniemi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rovaniemi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rovaniemi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich than you might in Rovaniemi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Zurich Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Zurich?
Zurich has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Zurich, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Rovaniemi or Zurich?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Zurich in the Summer?
Both Zurich and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Zurich this time of year.
In July, Rovaniemi is generally cooler than Zurich. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around 15°C (60°F), and Zurich fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite sunny in Zurich. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi usually receives more sunshine than Zurich during summer. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Zurich. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRovaniemi 15°C (60°F)Zurich 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Zurich in the Autumn?
Both Zurich and Rovaniemi during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Zurich for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the autumn. Rovaniemi is much colder than Zurich in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around 2°C (36°F) in October, and Zurich fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Rovaniemi often gets less sunshine than Zurich. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 120 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in October than Zurich. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRovaniemi 2°C (36°F)Zurich 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Zurich in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Zurich. Also, many visitors come to Zurich in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Zurich can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Rovaniemi. In the winter, Rovaniemi is much colder than Zurich. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rovaniemi in January average around -12°C (10°F), and Zurich averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives less sunshine than Zurich during winter. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Zurich. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRovaniemi -12°C (10°F)Zurich 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Zurich in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Zurich. Also, most visitors come to Zurich for the natural beauty during these months.
Rovaniemi can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Rovaniemi is generally much colder than Zurich. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around -1°C (31°F), and Zurich fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Rovaniemi often gets more sunshine than Zurich. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 150 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in April than Zurich. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRovaniemi -1°C (31°F)Zurich 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Zurich and Rovaniemi
| Rovaniemi | Zurich | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.